Open back downlight EICR code

in a single storey building or part of building, isn't a ceiling supposed to have a fire resistance of 30 min?

I believe that's correct. However there is evidence that downlighter holes in a typical ceiling (plasterboard and solid rectangular joists) don't reduce the fire resistance to below 30 mins. See the "TTL tests" in here: https://www.the50plus.co.uk/tech_support/Ceiling_downlighter_regs.pdf


BS 7671 does have requirements for maintaining the prescribed fire-resistance of building elements - so any breach of that would be codeable on an EICR - however the regulation usually quoted (527.2.1) seems only to apply to penetrations made for wiring systems so would not seem to cover holes made to house other equipment (e.g. recessed luminaires) where the wiring system doesn't end up passing through the hole. I can't seem to find an equivalent one that obviously covers our situation, which feels like something of an omission. Perhaps it's intended to be covered by the regulations regarding the selection of equipment (133.3 perhaps) - e.g. where we're making a hole in a 60 or 120 minute rated ceiling then we need to pick an appropriately rated downlighter or provide 'adequate further protection'.


  - Andy.

in a single storey building or part of building, isn't a ceiling supposed to have a fire resistance of 30 min?

I believe that's correct. However there is evidence that downlighter holes in a typical ceiling (plasterboard and solid rectangular joists) don't reduce the fire resistance to below 30 mins. See the "TTL tests" in here: https://www.the50plus.co.uk/tech_support/Ceiling_downlighter_regs.pdf


BS 7671 does have requirements for maintaining the prescribed fire-resistance of building elements - so any breach of that would be codeable on an EICR - however the regulation usually quoted (527.2.1) seems only to apply to penetrations made for wiring systems so would not seem to cover holes made to house other equipment (e.g. recessed luminaires) where the wiring system doesn't end up passing through the hole. I can't seem to find an equivalent one that obviously covers our situation, which feels like something of an omission. Perhaps it's intended to be covered by the regulations regarding the selection of equipment (133.3 perhaps) - e.g. where we're making a hole in a 60 or 120 minute rated ceiling then we need to pick an appropriately rated downlighter or provide 'adequate further protection'.


  - Andy.